GB2360057A

GB2360057A - Machine for working on a railway track

Info

Publication number: GB2360057A
Application number: GB0100612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ing Josef Theurer; Friedrich Peitl
Original assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen Industrie GmbH
Priority date: 2000-03-10
Filing date: 2001-01-10
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-10
Also published as: GB0100612D0; AT3654U3; FR2807452B1; GB2360057B; CH695901A5; AT3654U2; DE10101416A1; FR2807452A1

Abstract

The machine (1) has a machine frame (3), supported on the track by rail undercarriages (4) and continuously mobile by means of a motive drive (5), and a satellite frame (9) comprising a working unit (14). The satellite frame (9) has a separate undercarriage (10) and is articulatedly connected (11, 12) to the machine frame (3) for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the machine and movable relative to the machine frame with the aid of a displacement drive (13). A blocking device (17) is fastened to both the machine frame (3) and the satellite frame (9) by means of universal joints and is formed by two longitudinal mutually telescopic elements, e.g. cylinders, selectively lockable together when fully telescoped to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the satellite frame (9) to the machine frame (3) during transport movements of the machine (1). Locking of the elements is provided by a hydraulically moved bolt transversely of the elements entering aligned bores of the elements.

Description

1 2360057 NA 569 ORIGINAL TEXT (GB) Wilsp The invention relates to a

machine for treating a track, including a machine frame supported on the track by rail undercarriages and continuously mobile by means of a motive drive, as well as a satellite frame comprising a working unit, the satellite frame being designed to roll on the track by means of a separate undercarriage and being articulatedly connected to the machine frame for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the machine as well as being movable relative to the machine frame by means of a displacement drive.

A machine of this kind is known, for example, from AT-B 376 259. This track maintenance machine - designed as a so-called continuous tamping machine - is equipped with a satellite frame on which a track tamping unit and a track lifting and lining unit are fastened as working units. The satellite frame is supported on the track by means of a separate rail undercarriage and during working operations is moved cyclically from sleeper to sleeper in order to tamp the same, while the machine frame, bearing the main bulk of the machine, is continuously driven slowly in the working direction at a steady speed with the aid of a motive drive. A hydraulic cylinder-piston drive aligned in the longitudinal direction of the machine serves for the relative displacement of the satellite frame with respect to the machine frame. During transfer travel of the machine to or from the working site, which takes place at higher speed, the satellite frame can be raised above the track level with the aid of a vertical drive provided between the satellite frame and the machine frame and can be transported while suspended on the machine frame.

A further satellite frame, designed to be supported and mobile on a track and having working units, is known from AT-B 383 838, this frame remaining in engagement with the track also during transfer travel by means of its rail undercarriage and being pulled along by the machine frame.

It is now the object of the present invention to create a machine of the kind mentioned at the beginning with which an optimal connection between machine frame and satellite frame becomes possible.

2 This object is achieved with a machine of the specified kind which is characterized by a blocking device, fastened to both the machine frame and the satellite frame by means of a universal joint, which is formed by two blocking elements designed for being displaced into one another telescopically and being optionally lockable in their displacement with regard to one another by means of a locking mechanism.

This embodiment according to the invention offers the great advantage that, in addition to the primary, longitudinally displaceable articulation, there exists also a permanent articulated connection between the machine frame and the satellite frame, this adding substantially to the stability of the machine arrangement. By virtue of the telescopic design of the blocking device, said connection can be maintained both during working operations and during transfer travel and does not in the least impede the working operation of the working units or the displaceability of the satellite frame. At the same time, however, this arrangement offers the possibility to quickly, efficiently and reliably block the mobility of the satellite frame relative to the machine frame in order to guide the satellite frame on the machine fame in a safe and danger-avoiding way during transfer travel. According to the further developments disclosed in the sub-claims, the blocking can be carried out in a particularly ergonomic manner also by remote control, whereby the alignment of the two blocking elements with one another in the optimal blocking position can be achieved without any problems whatsoever and practically automatically.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a track maintenance machine with a satellite frame which has a blocking device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 and 3 show a side view and top view, respectively, of the blocking device of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, a machine 1 is shown which is designed as a so-called continuous track tamping machine for tamping sleepers of a track 2. The machine 1 has a machine frame 3 which is supported by means of rail undercarriages 4 on the track 2 and is mobile on the same with the aid of a motive drive 5. The machine frame 3 is equipped with driver's or operator's cabs 6, arranged at the ends, and a central energy source 7. The working direction of the machine 1 during the treatment of the track is indicated by an arrow 8.

Underneath the machine frame 3, in the region between the two rail undercarriages 4, a satellite frame 9 is provided which is designed to roll on the track 2 with the aid of a separate undercarriage 10. At the end opposite to the undercarriage 10, the satellite frame 9 is provided with an articulation 11, extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine or track and projecting from the satellite frame in the working direction, which is mounted on the machine frame 3 for longitudinal displacement in a roller guide 12. Additionally arranged on the satellite frame 9 are working units 14 in the shape of a tamping unit 15 and a track lifting and lining unit 16. A displacement drive 13, articulatedly connected between machine frame 3 and satellite frame 9, serves for cyclically moving the satellite frame 9 to and fro relative to the machine frame 3 which advances continuously during working operations.

In addition to the articulation 11, machine frame 3 and satellite frame 9 are also connected to one another by means of a blocking device 17 shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. Said blocking device 17 consists essentially of two blocking elements 18,19, shaped for instance cylindrically, which are designed to be displaced telescopically into one another and have a longitudinal axis 27 which extends approximately in the longitudinal direction of the machine. In this, the one blocking element 18 is articulatedly connected to the machine frame 3 by means of a universal joint 20 while the other blocking element 19 is fastened to the satellite frame 9 by means of a like universal joint 21. The displacement of the two blocking elements 18 and 19 with regard to one another is optionally blockable in a certain position by means of a locking mechanism 22. To that end, the locking mechanism 22 comprises a bolt 23 which is movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 4 27 of the blocking elements 18,19 with the aid of a hydraulic drive 24 and in this way can be inserted into a bore 25 or 26 provided on both blocking elements. Said bores are arranged in such a way that they extend coaxially to one another when the blocking elements 18 and 19 are pushed together all the way to their end position, in other words, the locking of the blocking device 17 takes place at the shortest longitudinal extension thereof, as the situation represented in Figs. 2 and 3 shows.

During the working operation, the locking mechanism 22 is released and the bolt 23 is retracted from the bores 25,26 in order to enable an unhindered telescopic movement of the two blocking elements 18 and 19 with regard to one another, which, during working operations, is caused by the cyclic displacement of the satellite frame 9 relative to the machine frame 3. In this, the blocking device 17 can remain connected to the two frames 3 and 9 without problems since the joints 20 and 21 also allow a horizontal and a vertical movement of the satellite frame 9 relative to the machine frame 3 perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the machine, as required in track curves and also, to a smaller extent, when there are changes in the track level. In order to lock the satellite frame 9 with the machine frame 3 for increased safety during transfer travel, the satellite frame 9 is first displaced all the way to the stop into the rear end position by means of the displacement drive 13. In this position, the two bores 25 and 26 in the blocking elements 18 and 19 are automatically aligned, and the bolt 23 can be inserted by remote control from the operator's cab 6 with the aid of the drive 24 in order to activate the lock.

Claims

C 1 a i m s

1. A machine for treating a track, including a machine frame supported on the track by rail undercarriages and continuously mobile by means of a motive drive, as well as a satellite frame comprising a working unit, the satellite frame being designed to roll on the track by means of a separate undercarriage and being articulatedly connected to the machine frame for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the machine as well as being movable relative to the machine frame by means of a displacement drive, characterized by a blocking device, fastened to both the machine frame and the satellite frame by means of a universal joint, which is formed by two blocking elements designed for being displaced into one another telescopically and being optionally lockable in their displacement with regard to one another by means of a locking mechanism.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking elements have a longitudinal axis which is aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction of the machine or the longitudinal direction of the track.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking mechanism consists of a hydraulically movable bolt which is insertable into a bore provided on both blocking elements, respectively, and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof.

4. A machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the bores are positioned on both blocking elements in such a way that they extend coaxially to one another when the blocking device is pushed together all the way to the end position, exhibiting its shortest length.

5. A machine for treating a track, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(1:> Amended claims have been filed as follows C 1 a i m S 1. A machine for treating a track, including a machine frame supported in use on the track by rail undercarriages having track engageable wheels and continuously mobile by means of a motive drive, as well as a satellite frame comprising a working unit, the satellite frame being designed to roil on the track by means of a separate undercarriage, having track engageable wheels, and being articulatedly connected to the machine frame for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the machine as well as being movable relative to the machine frame by means of a displacement drive, characterized by a blocking device, fastened to both the machine frame and the satellite frame by means of a respective universal joint, which is formed by two blocking elements designed for being displaced into one another telescopically and being selectively lockable against displacement with regard to one another by means of a locking mechanism.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking elements have a longitudinal axis which is aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction of the machine.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking mechanism consists of a hydraulically movable bolt which is insertable into a respective bore provided on each of the two blocking elements and extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof.

4. A machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the bores are positioned on both blocking elements in such a way that they extend coaxially to one another when the blocking elements are pushed together all the way to an end position, exhibiting the shortest length of the blocking device.